The limitations of observational data
University of Sydney
The limitations of observational data
Alternatives to observational data?
Experiments
Source: Haynes 2012
Why experiments?
What are some problems with experiments?
What is a lab experiment?
What are some examples?
What did this experiment involve?
What were these 'irrelevant stimuli'?
Source: Washington Post
What is a lab experiment?
What are some examples?
What is a field experiment?
What are some examples?
What is a survey experiment?
For instance. Want to understand the causal impact of economic insecurity on support for populism.
Are you extremely worried, very worried, moderately worried, a little worried or not at all worried about:
We then ask a series of questions designed to tap into populist or authoritarian attitudes, such as:
Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree that:
<1> Strongly agree <2> Agree <3> Disagree <4> Strongly disagree
What is a survey experiment?
Problems with survey experiments?
What is a natural experiment?
What is a natural experiment?
Problems with natural experiments?
Using spatial data to understand the world
What is spatial data?
Why and how do we use spatial data?
| State | Trump vote share (%) | Pop density (per sKm) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 62 | 37 |
| Alaska | 51 | 0 |
| Arizona | 49 | 23 |
| Arkansas | 61 | 22 |
| California | 32 | 97 |
| Colorado | 43 | 20 |
| Connecticut | 41 | 286 |
| Delaware | 42 | 187 |
| District of Columbia | 4 | 4251 |
| Florida | 49 | 145 |
| Georgia | 51 | 68 |
| Hawaii | 30 | 86 |
| Idaho | 59 | 7 |
| Illinois | 39 | 89 |
| Indiana | 57 | 71 |
| Iowa | 51 | 21 |
| Kansas | 57 | 14 |
| Kentucky | 63 | 43 |
| Louisiana | 58 | 41 |
| Maine | 45 | 16 |
| Maryland | 34 | 238 |
| Massachusetts | 33 | 336 |
| Michigan | 48 | 67 |
| Minnesota | 45 | 26 |
| Mississippi | 58 | 24 |
| Missouri | 57 | 34 |
| Montana | 56 | 2 |
| Nebraska | 54 | 9 |
| Nevada | 46 | 10 |
| New Hampshire | 47 | 57 |
| New Jersey | 41 | 470 |
| New Mexico | 40 | 6 |
| New York | 37 | 162 |
| North Carolina | 50 | 79 |
| North Dakota | 63 | 4 |
| Ohio | 52 | 109 |
| Oklahoma | 65 | 22 |
| Oregon | 39 | 16 |
| Pennsylvania | 48 | 110 |
| Rhode Island | 39 | 394 |
| South Carolina | 55 | 62 |
| South Dakota | 62 | 4 |
| Tennessee | 61 | 61 |
| Texas | 52 | 40 |
| Utah | 46 | 14 |
| Vermont | 30 | 26 |
| Virginia | 44 | 81 |
| Washington | 37 | 41 |
| West Virginia | 69 | 29 |
| Wisconsin | 47 | 41 |
| Wyoming | 67 | 2 |
Source: The Washington Post
Source: Mark Newman
Source: Mark Newman
Source: Washington Post
Source: Washington Post
Source: Mark Newman
Source: Kenneth Field
Dr Shaun Ratcliff
Email: shaun.ratcliff@sydney.edu.au
Office: Room N416, Institute Building (H03)
Nick James (Friday lab)
Email: nicholas.james@sydney.edu.au
Office: Level 5, The School of Information Technologies, Building J12